Embassy Statements 2014

U.S. Embassy Statement on the Release of Dangerous Detainees

February 13, 2014

The
Government of Afghanistan’s decision to release 65 detainees from the Parwan
Detention Center is deeply regrettable. Among those released today are
individuals who are responsible for, or contributed to,
the deaths of Afghan security force personnel, Afghan civilians, and American
and other coalition personnel. The evidence linking these
individuals to serious crimes warrants careful consideration by a prosecutor
and, potentially, indictments and prosecutions in Afghan courts under Afghan law.
We requested a thorough review of each case. Instead, the evidence
against them was never seriously considered.

Releasing
these individuals is contrary to Afghanistan’s commitment in our 2012
Memorandum of Understanding to take all necessary steps to ensure that
detainees do not pose a continuing threat to Afghanistan, the international
community or the United States.

The Afghan government bears responsibility for
the results of its decision. We urge it to make every effort to
ensure that those released do not commit new acts of violence and terror, and
to immediately bring to justice any who do so.